Speech Disorders – Can An Orthodontist Help?

Did you know that the alignment of your teeth can affect your speech? One of the first things people notice about you is your smile and how we communicate when talking. If you have issues speaking clearly, orthodontics can help!

Lisping, whistling or slurring, and mispronunciation of words with “s” and “t” are the most common offenders. Proper diagnosis and correction during a patient’s developmental years, by an orthodontist, makes it much easier to correct the tooth and/or jaw problems associated with poor speech habits. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children be evaluated by age 7.

Common Causes of Many Speech Impediments?

An overjet (buck teeth), open bite, or crossbite are the most common causes of speech impediments. Teeth must come together properly to create an airtight seal for the tongue to swallow properly in the roof of the mouth. If there is an opening which is often found in overjets, and open bites, the tongue creates the seal instead and results in a speech issue when communicating. If there is not enough room for the tongue which is often found with Crossbites or underbites, the speech also can be affected.

Why Choose an Orthodontist to Correct Speech Disorders?

Orthodontics is the treatment of irregularities of the teeth and jaws by a trained dental specialist with 2-3 years additional training after receiving their dental degree. General Dentistry is a broad medical specialty that deals with the teeth, gums, nerves, and jaw, while orthodontics is a specialty within dentistry that focuses strictly on correcting bites, occlusion, jaw development, and the straightness of teeth.

One important difference is that all orthodontists like Dr. Alizadeh and Dr. Schreiner are dentists, but not all dentists are licensed orthodontists. Understanding the complexities of proper tooth movement and jaw growth allows an orthodontist to drastically improve or eliminate speech problems in patients of all ages.